If you’re finally decided that it’s time to replace your current mattress, this guide will save you some time when finding your new one.
Choosing a new mattress doesn’t have to be time-consuming if you know what to look at and where to look. All you need to consider is your budget, mattress types and their lifespans, firmness level, (room and body) temperatures, customer reviews, and of course your personal preferences.
Getting the best mattress might mean going out and trying different mattresses in-store or reading through specifications from different mattress brands to find the perfect mattress for yourself. This mattress buying guide will teach you what to look for and how you could replace your old mattress with one that would give you a good night’s sleep.
Most Important Factors When Choosing A Mattress
Budget
This alone easily narrows down your choices. If you know for a fact that you are under a tight budget, look for mattresses ranging from $500-$1000 depending on size. Queen-sized mattresses will usually play along the $1000 mark. If you have a sizeable budget, this allows you to check out more expensive luxury mattresses.
IMPORTANT NOTE: A higher price doesn’t always mean good quality, especially when buying from retail stores. They need to pay their rental fees and highly commissioned salespeople, which are all factored into what you pay for. Similarly, the cheapest mattress isn’t your best option either. Unless it’s a well-renowned brand, chances are it’s a sign of low quality.
Mattress Type and Lifespan
Now that you know your budget, selecting an ideal mattress type is next. Here’s a brief summary on the types of mattresses available.
- Innerspring Mattresses or coil mattresses are the traditional, old-fashioned mattresses almost everyone is familiar with. They use fairly dated technology, making them one of the cheapest options out there. Due to the spaces between the fabric and springs, innerspring mattresses are breathable. However, these same spaces can also cause innersprings to become unsupportive in the long run.
- Latex Mattresses are known for its responsiveness/bounce, and long lifespan. Since they don’t mould to the body’s shape, it allows for sleeping cool. Using natural latex foam, however, makes it prone to oxidation manifested in discolouration and crumbling of the material.
- Memory Foam is a temperature-sensitive material that uses heat and pressure to mould to your unique curves. Once you remove the pressure, it goes back to its original shape. This also means your motion will be isolated – leaving your partner’s or pet’s sleep undisturbed! Some memory foam mattresses tend to sleep hot, so make sure you opt for those with cooling mechanisms.
- Hybrid Mattresses are a combination of spring and memory foam. This gives it good support from springs with the contouring and motion isolation of memory foam.
Firmness
Firmness refers to how soft or firm the mattress feels. The right mattress should cradle your pressure points, while supporting the natural alignment of your spine. Now, the right firmness for you will depend on several factors such as weight, sleeping position, age, partners/pets. We wrote about finding the right mattress firmness here, too.
NEW MATTRESS ALERT: Our extra firm Align Firm Mattress is our firmest mattress yet. Get the support you’ve always wanted for a sold night’s sleep with the Align Firm Mattress.
But let me discuss the most crucial factors in this article—weight and sleeping position — when it comes to firmness.
- Weight
Your weight should be compatible with your mattress’ firmness. The heavier you are, the more pressure is exerted on the mattress. Lighter sleepers who weigh less than 60kg are best supported by soft to medium mattresses (firmness level of 3-6). Heavier sleepers weighing more than 105kg should look into medium-firm to firm mattresses (firmness level of 7-9).
- Sleeping Position
This has more to do with sinkage on the mattress. Imagine a body weight of 105kg on a soft mattress – there’s absolutely no support there! You’d need a good amount of cushioning and firmness to counteract it.
The joints that hit the mattress directly are also very important because they should be cushioned and relieved when sleeping.
- Side Sleepers – Soft to medium mattresses can mould to the hips and shoulders more than firm mattresses. Going soft can provide some pressure relief to the joints and pressure points.
- Back Sleepers – Medium-firm to firm mattresses are able to distribute weight evenly on the mattress. Research has shown that chronic back pain sufferers sought relief in firmer mattresses, particularly medium-firm.
- Stomach Sleepers – Medium-firm to firm mattresses elevate the pelvis area – helping sleepers keep afloat. Being supported is equally as important here because sagging in the middle area can lead to hyperextension of the lower back.
If you sleep beside a partner, you should also consider the edge support, as scooching over the edge can sometimes cause the mattress to bow which may potentially throw you off your bed.
Still can’t decide? Ecosa’s memory foam mattress provides customisable comfort layers which lets you adjust the firmness level of your mattress. Whether you want to sleep on a firm bed or a medium firm or medium sleeping surface. The Ecosa Mattress has got you covered!
Mattress Size
Don’t forget to consider the amount of space you have in your room! This tells you how big or small your mattress should be – whether you should go for a single bed, a queen size, or even a king size bed.
If you sleep with a partner, factor in their sleeping positions and how much space both of you take up on the mattress. Do you like getting cosy, or do you enjoy having personal space? Verify the mattress dimensions before buying!
See the range: Queen Size Mattresses, King Size Mattresses
Other Factors to Consider
Temperature
If you tend to sleep hot, check the specifications of your mattress to know if it sleeps cool. Some mattresses of lower quality can be hot, so better look for a mattress that has an air ventilation system or some opening to let air flow.
You may also check the specifications of your mattress to learn about its breathability. Some lower-quality mattresses can be hot to sleep on, so look for a mattress that breathes. The Ecosa mattress, for instance, has an air memory foam top layer and an air circulation system built into it.
Mattress Reviews
Always cross-check with reviews if a mattress sounds too good to be true. This is the easiest way to learn about each brand’s strengths and weaknesses. The best part? It’s all online—no sweat.
Q: Should I Try Before I Buy, or Should I Buy to Try?
Trying before you buy is the traditional way of doing it. Although other people would do away with the expensive prices and unnecessary pressure from salespeople.
Buying first to try sounds good provided it’s risk-free. Luckily, this is a feature many online mattress companies already offer. Once the mattress arrives, you get to actually sleep on it throughout the trial period. If you don’t like it, you may freely return it as well for a full refund. This actually sounds like a better way of getting used to your mattress, isn’t it?
The Ecosa Mattresses come in different materials for you to try. You get a 100-night trial period, and if you don’t love it, it will be refunded to you and arranged for your mattress to be donated. Ecosa mattresses also come with a 15-year warranty for that peace of mind that you’re looking for.
Last Tip: Enjoy Mattress Shopping!
Your mattress is where you lay to rest each night – your refuge. It shouldn’t be associated with feelings of stress but with happy and ecstatic ones. Try to make the mattress shopping process less tedious by having fun with it. You learn things you can use for your next mattress purchase! Who knows when you or anyone in your circle will need a new one?
Want to get the best, high-quality mattresses now? Ecosa can provide same-day delivery for Australia’s metro area cities for no cost! They all come in compact bed-in-a-box packaging to fit your doors and stairways with ease. Order now, break that mattress in, and start having better nights and sweeter dreams!
